Vipe Desai 🏴‍☠️

I’ve been looking at a recent Shop Eat Surf Outdoor piece on 2026 trends, and it’s a useful one for planning. It’s useful because it reflects how people are already engaging with outdoor and performance brands. Three points stood out. 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲. Participation is broader and more fluid than it used to be, something the Outdoor Industry Association has been highlighting recently through their consumer reports. Brands like HOKA and Salomon manage this well. They stay credible with the core while remaining accessible to people who engage more casually. That balance shows up in product ranges, messaging, and channel choices. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Durability, repair, and longer lifecycles are becoming part of the value. Patagonia and Arc'teryx Equipment'teryx have made this normal. Over time, that builds trust. In the short term, it makes buying decisions easier because people feel they are investing, not just replacing. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱, 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. Stores are becoming 3d brand experiences hosting running groups, local events, and community activity. New Balance is a good example. When people associate a brand with time spent, not just money spent, it tends to show up later in loyalty and repeat behaviour. Taken together, these are practical inputs for 2026 go to market planning. They influence who you build for, how you talk about value, and where you invest beyond paid media. 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Where are you already seeing this show up in your category? 🔗 Below. Outdoor and Active Lifestyle Trends: 2025 Recap and 2026 Forecast

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This is surprising, but betting is quietly changing how equestrian gear is bought. Not many talk about it. In markets like the UK, £10B+ is wagered annually on horse racing. That capital doesn’t stay in betting platforms. It flows into performance pressure across the ecosystem. And pressure changes behaviour. From what I see: When stakes go up → • Gear is chosen for performance, not longevity • Replacement cycles get shorter • Decisions become ROI-driven, not emotional Racing demand is not the same as equestrian demand. One buys for passion. The other buys outcomes. Most suppliers treat both the same. That’s where they get it wrong. #EquestrianIndustry #MarketInsights #PerformanceDriven

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Ughhhh....California just made CWD testing mandatory for thousands of deer hunters. I just published an article for Outdoor Hub covering the significant new CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) regulations affecting California hunters this season. Key takeaways: - Mandatory CWD testing is now required for ALL deer harvested in zones D7, X9a, X9b, and X9c - Testing is experiencing delays, but submission remains critical for wildlife management - Tag availability varies significantly by zone, so hunters should secure permits quickly California Department of Fish and Wildlife says they are taking proactive steps to monitor and manage CWD spread, and hunters play a vital role in these surveillance efforts.

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Kyle Frost just published the best analysis of the outdoor recreation economy I've seen this year. The outdoor industry spent 2024 celebrating participation growth. More hikers. More campers. OIA frames this as proof that outdoor is booming. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows outdoor recreation grew 2.7% while the overall U.S. economy grew 2.8%. It's the first time since before the pandemic that outdoor is growing slower than the broader economy. That's not a boom. Frost breaks down what the $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation number actually includes. Hiking, climbing, and tent camping - the activities dominating outdoor media and brand marketing - represent 1.1% of total outdoor recreation economic value. One percent. Golf generates more. Amusement parks generate more. RV manufacturing in Indiana generates more. The activities OIA celebrates for participation growth are the ones with the lowest economic value per participant. Frost shows the outdoor recreation economy is a travel and hospitality economy. Transportation alone - $106.2 billion - generates more value than all conventional outdoor activities combined. This connects to what I've been tracking in OIA's participation data. Core outdoor participants down 11 million. Outings per participant down 28%. The industry's measurement methodology is replacing high-frequency, gear-intensive participants with low-frequency, minimal-gear participants and calling it growth. You can't build a healthy outdoor industry on casual participants doing six outings per year in borrowed gear. The math doesn't close. Read Frost's full analysis. He shows which story actually matters. https://lnkd.in/eTChppCc #outdoorindustry #specialtyretail

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🌿 Southern California’s Quiet Lawn Revolution is Making Waves 💧 For decades, Bermuda grass has been the iconic Southern California lawn choice — but water scarcity is calling for change. Thanks to the West Basin Municipal Water District's innovative grass replacement rebate program, residents are embracing drought-resistant landscapes and real gardens, transforming their yards and conserving precious water. Here’s how it works: 💸 Residents earn $3 to $6 per square foot for removing traditional turf — meaning a 1,000 sq. ft. lawn can bring in up to $6,000! 🌳 Plant drought-tolerant trees? Get an extra $100 per tree (up to five). 🌱 Plus, free landscape design help ensures your new garden is both beautiful and water-wise. Why switch? Traditional lawns use about 40 gallons of water per sq. ft. annually — native plants need only 10 gallons. This shift can save families water, cut bills, reduce fire risk, and support pollinators like bees and butterflies. And it’s not just Southern California — similar programs in Las Vegas, Arizona, and federal incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act are empowering more communities to upgrade for the future. Native gardens also help recharge groundwater, reduce runoff, and cool our neighborhoods — creating healthier, more sustainable spaces to live and thrive. This is a win for homeowners, the environment, and our communities. Are you ready to rethink your lawn? 🌸 #WaterConservation #Sustainability #DroughtResilience #NativePlants #GreenLiving #CommunityImpact #LandscapeDesign #EnvironmentalStewardship

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Race organizers, I know you need simple, actionable ways to make your events more sustainable without adding to your workload. Good news: it’s all wrapped up in this new article I wrote on Running USA. We often talk about sustainability as “making the right choice,” (and sure it does feel good to align actions with values.) But the real power of sustainability is future-proofing your event. It’s not just about environmental impact. It’s about building long-term community connections, especially with Gen Z participants who increasingly choose events that reflect their priorities. That connection can be the difference between someone signing up year after year… or moving on to another race. If you’re ready to shift your event from landfill to legacy, this article breaks down exactly how to start.

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Southern Oregon Guides and Outfitters in the News https://lnkd.in/d3kv7YFa National storytelling platforms are taking notice of the people and companies shaping Southern Oregon’s outdoor economy. The recent All Access with Host Andy Garcia feature on Sawyer Paddles and Oars highlights nearly 60 years of craftsmanship, sustainability, and American-made manufacturing. Based in Southern Oregon, Sawyer’s paddles and oars are trusted by guides and outfitters across the country — built with precision and a deep respect for the water. Those paddles are put to work on our own backyard rivers by outfitters like Will Volpert of Indigo Creek Outfitters: “People from all over the place come to Southern Oregon to visit one of our backyard rivers due to how authentic these places are, it's so different from our ordinary lives… with all these distractions… and when we get out to these wild places all of that falls to the side and all you're left with are these real connections to the places that you're visiting.” From manufacturing to guiding, Southern Oregon’s river economy is rooted in craftsmanship, stewardship, and authentic experiences. It’s encouraging to see that work — and the wild places that make it possible — gaining broader visibility.

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